Average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana
Botswana: Average area burnt per wildfire was 565.59 hectares in 2026. ▼ Falling
Average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2026, average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana stood at 565.59 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.6% on the previous year and down 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana peaked at 1,184 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 565.59 hectares, in 2026.
That places Botswana 10th out of 182 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 991.71 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 897.29 hectares | -9.5% |
| 2014 | 818.34 hectares | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 797.93 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 809.43 hectares | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 1,145 hectares | +41.4% |
| 2018 | 932.86 hectares | -18.5% |
| 2019 | 822.3 hectares | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 962.12 hectares | +17.0% |
| 2021 | 1,184 hectares | +23.1% |
| 2022 | 1,160 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 980.32 hectares | -15.5% |
| 2024 | 775.71 hectares | -20.9% |
| 2025 | 750.22 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2026 | 565.59 hectares | -24.6% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 565.59 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 266 hectares, 2.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 565.59 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 314.75 hectares, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 901.85 hectares | 797.93 hectares | 1,145 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 911.18 hectares | 565.59 hectares | 1,184 hectares | 7 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
- 7 Montenegro 649.03 hectares compare
- 8 Russia 618.19 hectares compare
- 9 Australia 614.28 hectares compare
- 11 Namibia 545.95 hectares compare
- 12 Mauritania 542.93 hectares compare
- 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina 506.8 hectares compare
More reference data data for Botswana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana?
- Average area burnt per wildfire in Botswana was 565.59 hectares in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 1,184 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest average area burnt per wildfire recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 565.59 hectares in 2026.
- How does Botswana rank for average area burnt per wildfire?
- Botswana ranks 10th out of 182 countries with data for 2026.
- Is average area burnt per wildfire rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average area burnt per wildfire. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average area burnt per wildfire, in hectares. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.